Air-engine for mechanical musical instruments



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. D. PARKER.

AIR ENGINE FOR MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. No. 355,201. Patented Dec. 28, 1886..

11 Fig. 2.

WITNESSES: nvmvme ATTORNEY N. PETERS. Phola-Lvllmgmphur. Washingwm 0. CV

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

W. n. PARKER.

AIR ENGINE FOR MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. No. 355,201.

Patented Dec. 28, 1886.

Fig. 3

WITNESSES." 2a. 2:

ATTORNEY N. PETERS. PlvolWLilhogmphzn wnihm wm D.C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM D. PARKER, OF XVOROESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

AlR-ENGINE FOR MECHANICAL MUSlCALlNSTRUMENTS.

SPECEE-ICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 355,201, dated December 28, 1886.

Application filed December 3, 1885. Serial No. 184,588. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM D. PARKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Worcester, in the county of lVorcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented. certain new and useful Improvements in Air-Pressure Engines for Mechanical Musical Instruments; and I declare the following to be a description of my said invention sufficiently full, clear, and exact to enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference bcin g had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in windmotor engines of that class which are employed for operating the musicsheet in mechanical musical instruments, the object of the invention being to provide a mechanism which will operate with no loss of wind or leakage; also, to provide a simple, efficient, and convenientarrangement of val ves and means for operating the valves. objects I attain by mechanism the nature, construction, and operation of which are illus trated in the accompanying drawings, and 6X plained in the following description, the particular subject-matter claimed being hereinafter definitely specified.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a wind-motor engine constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a rear View with the back rembved, a portion being shown in vertical section through the valve-operating devices. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section at line as m, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the aii inlet valve. Figs. 5 and G are detail views of the air-exit valve.

In reference to parts, A denotes the main wind-chest, which may be the wind-chest of any musical instrument, and which is connected with bellows mechanism B, of suitable or ordinary construction, for exhausting the air from said wind-chest.

A indicates the auxiliary windchest in the motor-engine, which communicates with the wind-chest Aby suitable connesting-passages, A", which may be provided with a cutoff or valve, A, as indicated.

0 indicates the frame or case of the engine.

D, D, and D show the collapsible chambers These l or motors arranged on the front part, 0, of the case, and severally connected by arms and bio shaft F, which is arranged at the top of the engine to turn in bearingsg g, as indicated. At the back of the motors are arranged a series of chambers, H, within which are located the air-exit valves I, and above said chambers H is a space or chamber, J, in which are located the air-inlet valves K. The space J, which communicates with the exterior air through suitable openings, J, has passages 7c, leading therefrom into the chambers H, which latter chambers open into the motors D, as indicated at d. Passages ialso lead from said chambers H into the auxiliary wind-chest A, which connects by one or more passages, A with the main wind-chest.

The valves I, for closing the passagesz' in the lower part-of the chambers H, are in the present instance made as circular disks, and are mounted directly upon vertical operatingrods L, which pass through the center of the valves, and said rods are provided at their lower ends with buttons or heads I, as indicated. The operating-rodsLextend up through the top of the case, and their upper ends work in conjunction with the cams M, adjustably fixed on the shaft F.

Swinging arms N are connected with the heads of the rods L,for retaining themin proper relation, and anti-friction rolls a are preferably provided for traveling on the faces of the cams. Springs 0 are connected withv the arms N for lifting the arms and rods against the action of the cams. Springs 1? are also arranged upon the rods L, between the valves I and top of the chambers H, for pressing said valves down to their seats.

The valves K, which close the inlet-passages 7c, are made as indicated, the disk or valve plate being connected to a lever, K, which is fulcrumed, as at c, and its opposite end bifurcated or otherwise fitted to engage or embrace the rod L, said rod being provided with an ad justablc slide, lug, or button L, for forcing down the end of the lever K to lift the valve. A spring, at, is arranged in connection with the valve K, for closing it when the rod L is lifted and its lever K released. The valves K rods E to the several cranks f on the revoluand I are so constructed and arranged, in relation to the rods L and their operating-buttons L and Z, that when the rod L is depressed by the cams M the valve K is opened by contact of the slide L on the rear end of its lever K, thereby admitting air through the passage K into the chamber II and motor D. Then when the rod is raised the valve K is closed and the valve I is lifted by the button Z, thereby opening the exit-passage i, to permit the air to pass out from the motor D and chambers E into chamber A in response to the partial vacuum induced therein by the exhaust action of the bellows I5. The movement of the actuating-rod L, as imparted by the cam, is greater than that required for the valves, so that the lugs or buttons L and Z reccde some distance from the valve I and valve'lever K when the respective valves are closed, the actuating-rod and buttons being unattached to the valve devices, so as to permit free and independent movement to such extent. The adjustment of the valve-operating devices is such that when the valve I opens the valve K closes, and vice versa, with an interval of time between the opening and closing, wherein both valves are entirely closed, the construction of the mechanism being such that one valve rests upon its seat and closes one passage before the other valve starts from its seat for opening the other passage. \Vith this arrangement there is no chance for loss of force by leakage, or the passage of air bythe valves by reason of one valve being partially open before the other is entirely closed, as is the case with other motors employed for this purpose.

Other valuable lcatures of this invention are the arrangement of the chambers II, communicating with the motors and having the valves disposed at top and bottom of said chambers, with the lifting-rods L operating direct from their actuating-cams,thus givinga simple, efficient, and compact construction, and produc ing an engine of great power, which occupies but small space, and one which is not liable to derangement by rough handling of the instruments during shipment, or to get out of order when in use. The case 0 is also made to inclose the valve mechanism in such manner that the valves are protected from the accumulation of dirt or accidental displacement by handling.

R R denote pulleys for the belts which run the music-sheet rolls, which pulleys may be arranged on the shaft F as desired, and with or without clutch devices combined therewith.

S indicates the slide or gate for stopping off the auxiliary exhaust-chamber A of the engine from the main wind-chest A of the instrument on which the engine is used.

The cams are in the present instance made to depress the rods L, said rods being raised against the cams by the springs O and arms K; but, if preferred, the cams may be arranged to lift said rods, or cams could be employed in a manner to work the rod both up and down, the action imparted to the rods and valves being substantially the same in either case.

In a previous application filed by Frank Stone for Letters Patent on pneumatic engines for mechanical musical instruments, there are set forth and claimed certain features of invention which are exhibited or reillustrated on the present drawings, and I desire it to be understood that such features as are embraced in said former application are not included in my present claims, except as they relate to improved combinations aud arrangements not specified in said former application.

A pneumatic motor for mechanical musical instruments, consisting of a case having air passages or chambers, a number of collapsible and exhaustible pneumatics communicating with said passages or chambers, a rotary shaft provided with cranks, connections between said shalt and pneumatics, valves controlling the passages in the ca-se,and cams on the rotary shaft for operating the valves, is not broadly claimed by me as of my invention, such a combination of elements having been devised by others prior to my invention of the improvements which form the subject of my present claims.

\Vhat I claim as of myinvention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an engine for musical instruments adapted for operating by air-pressure induced by the bellows action of the musical instrument, the combination, with valves that open and close the inlet and exit air-passages leading to and from the collapsible motor, of a valve-actuating device provided with lugs or buttons unattached to but adapted for alternately engaging with and operating said valves, substantially as described, whereby one valve is closed when the other is open, and vice versa, with an interval wherein both valves are closed, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In an engine for musical instruments, the combination, with the air-inlet valve and the air-exit valve to the motor, of a single actuating-rod controlling the action of both said valves by means of lugs or buttons attached to said rod and disposed at such interval apart that one valve closes before the other commenccs to open, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

3. In an engine for musical instruments,the combination, with a collapsible motor, of an air-inlet valve, an air-outlet valve, and a single operating rod controlling both of said valves by means of actuating lugs or buttons which are adjustable upon said rod for regulating the interval of actionbetwcen the movements of the respective valves, substantially as set forth.

I. In an engine for musical instruments, the combination, with the series of motors and the case 0, provided with chamberslland A, having air-passages (Z, k, andi, of the inlet and outlet valves arranged, respectively, within ICO IIO

and above said chamber H, to close in the direction of the exhaust or pressure, substantially as set forth.

5. In an engine for musical instruments, the combination, with the collapsible motor and its snpportingcase 0, having chambers H and A, of the valve Lwithin the chamber H, the reciprocating rod L, passing through said valve and provided with button Z, the arm N, spring 0, and cam M, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

6. In an engine for musical instruments, the combination, with a collapsible motor and adjoining chamber H, of the valve K, arranged on the exterior and having a tilting-arm, K, the reciprocating rod L, provided with an ad justable button or slide, L, the arm N, springs 0 and m, and cam M, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In an engine for niusicalinstruments, the

combination, substantially as described, of a \Vitness my hand this 18th'"day of Novemher, A. D. 1885.

"WILLIAM D. PARKER.

Witnesses:

Guns. H. BURLEIGH, FRANK STONE. 

